What others can learn from Scotland's Town of the Year

Inverurie is a small town success story

It is a old market town with a country heart and a modern outlook. It is also a small town loaded with big ideas.

Now, the mixed charms of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire have been widely recognised after it was named Scotland’s Town of the Year.

It outstripped East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Fort William in the Highlands and Kirkwall, Orkney in its efforts to take the title

Inverurie rapidly expanded as the oil industry boomed and now has one of Scotland’s largest GP surgeries to service the town and the outlying rural communities.

Now with a population of around 16,000, Inverurie impressed the judges from Scotland Loves Local, which is supported by the Scottish Government, with its efforts to turn ideas into action for the benefit of townspeople and traders.

As a result, the town centre is far from fading, with Inverurie retaining on of the highest retatil occupancy rates of any Scottish town, with just four per cent of shopfronts standing empty. It is a figure that must be viewed with envy by struggling small towns up and down the country.

Shops such as Wm Bruce Shoe Shop, which has been in business for 103 years, and Strachan’s deli and coffee shop, newsagent, toy and giftware store are among the businesses that root Inverurie’s character.

Strachan’s, which started life in 1938 as a fruit and veg cart which travelled around neighbouring villages, sits in the town centre alongside more recent offerings including Inverurie Whisky Shop.

But it is impossible not to mention the Marks and Spencer foodhall bang in the centre, which has a powerful magnet effect for Inverurie as a shopping destination.

This is further boosted by the farmer’s market - awash with fine local produce from the surrounding area - which has expanded multiple times in recent years.

In a further show of commercial strength, Inverurie has also managed to retain four major high street banks, as well as a building society. Footfall is up by 10% in the year to January.

Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Judy Whyte, is a lifelong Inverurie resident.

She said: “I couldn’t be prouder for Inverurie to be Scotland’s Town of the Year. We have so much to offer here - for visitors, as well as people who choose to live and work here. It’s a great place.

“This is a special market town which has retained its country heart, while having everything that people need in their modern life.

“Its success lies in the fact that we have a great community of people who each do lots of really meaningful things. Collectively, that all comes together to be a huge success.”

Television presenter Sean Batty - an ambassador for Scotland Loves Local - visited Inverurie to celebrate its success and described it as “buzzing”.

“It’s a lovely place and it’s clear to see just how proud people and businesses - some of which have been serving the community for three and four generations - are of the area. The way in which they are pulling together to create a real success story is so uplifting,” he added.

Success for Inverurie follows years of collective working involving businesses, community organisations, volunteers, residents and the public sector.

We Are Inverurie Business Improvement District (BID) works alongside Inverurie Events and others to help attract people to the town.

Its successes include The Garioch Pipe Band Championships in Kellands Park last year, which attracted an estimated 9,000 visitors.

The Big Switch On of the town’s Christmas lights attracts about 8,000 people as well as the monthly farmers’ market which has doubled in size since 2024, with 34 stalls drawing shoppers into the Market Square.

Derek Ritchie, Inverurie BID’s manager, was also named as Scotland Loves Local High Stret Hero for North East Scotland.

Judges described him as a “trusted champion of Inverurie town centre who plays a vital role in keeping Inverurie vibrant, welcoming and ambitious”.

Mr Ritchie said: “This has always been a good market town, with a proper town centre. It’s in the heart of the Garioch area, we have good transport links and there’s a good feel in the business community. There’s a good attitude and people work together well. People have everything here on their doorstep.”

Neil Mellis, a lifelong Inverurie resident said there had always been a “real heart” to the Inverurie community.

“But in recent years it’s really flourished, with more people coming into town and seeing what we’re all about. The town’s grown in all directions over the years,” he added.

Kimberley Guthrie, chief officer of Scotland’s Town Partnership, said the award recognised a “genuinely collaborative and collective effort that has really shone in recent years”.

She added: “Aberdeenshire Council are strong ambassadors of the town centre first principle and the success here shows the incredible difference that’s made when more people choose to live, work, open businesses and, ultimately, invest in towns.

“This is the time for Inverurie to wear its crown of Town of the Year with huge pride, reinforcing the message that our towns matter. Inverurie is an inspiration to others.”

The Scotland Loves Local Awards are supported by the Scottish Government.

Minister for Business and Fair Work Tom Arthur said: “I would like to congratulate Inverurie on being named Scotland's Town of the Year.

“This award recognises the collective effort of the local community, businesses and organisations, and highlights how a strong Business Improvement District, combined with a community-led approach, can help unlock a town's potential and create a thriving future for all who live, work and visit there.”

This is the third time that the Town of the Year title has been presented as part of the Scotland Loves Local Awards. The previous winners were Paisley (2025) and Oban (2024).